Breckenridge is an iconic ski destination but being such a large resort can make it confusing to know what it’s like and if it’s good for beginners or families. This being our first year skiing and snowboard, I wasn’t sure what I was looking for either. When I finally made it to Breckenridge, I instantly realized why it’s so popular. Breckenridge has so much to offer for all skiing and riding levels, but I found it especially great for beginners and families.

Getting Oriented With Breckenridge

Breckenridge is a world-renown ski town and for a good reason. The town of Breckenridge has everything you want from a small mountain town. It’s nestled between gorgeous peaks and has so many restaurant options for the hungry skier, as well as for the foodie at heart. But it’s not the town that makes Breck world-renown, it’s the incredible number of options you have on the mountain.

Finding your way around the lifts of Breckenridge can be overwhelming at first but once you’ve figure it out, you can peak hop all day long

Breckenridge ski resort sits very close to the center of Breckenridge town. Not that you can take the ski lift into town like you can in Park City, Utah. But you can ski from the top of Peak 8 to the base of the mountain and then walk 10 minutes or less to Main Street. There are also free buses that can get you anywhere you want to go in Breckenridge. They’re easy to use and they run often so you’ll never be waiting more than 10 minutes.

Main Street

Main Street is where you will find most of the restaurants, cafes, and plenty of shopping opportunities. In fact, all the big names in outdoor gear- Patagonia, North Face, Marmot, Columbia- have shops on Main Street.

Our favorite places to eat in Breckenridge are The Crown and Crepes A La Cart. After a long day on the slopes though, I grab pizza from Windy City Pizza & Pub and head north to Broken Compass Brewery. I love the kick back atmosphere here and that you can bring your own food.

BreckConnect Gondola

One of my favorite things about Breckenridge is that the BreckConnect Gondola is free. Whether you are here in summer or winter, you have to ride the Gondola. The views are incredible!

The gondola has three stops. First it takes you to the residential area and acess to snowshoeing and nordic trails. The second takes you to Peak 7 and the last is Peak 8. More on each peak below.

The main hub of Breckenridge Mountain, the base of Peak 8

Important Tip: The gondola allows lodge dwellers to be close by. While at Keystone you need a lift ticket to get to the top of the mountain and hang out at the restaurant, Breck has three lodges set up right in the mix of things- Peak 7, Peak 8, and Beaver Run- so if you don’t want to ski or your kids need a rest every hours then it’s easy to go into the lodge restaurants and be back on the slopes quickly

Parking in Breckenridge

There are a lot of places to park in Breckenridge, but most are paid parking. The lots right next to the BreckConnect Gondola are very convenient but cost about $10 for the day. Parking at the satellite lot is free and drops you right at the gondola. Another option for free parking is at the Ice Rink.

The you might have to park far to get free parking, the amazing shuttle system will never you keep you waiting long and they’ll drop you off at all 3 main lifts/lodges

Important Tip: Park at the free satellite parking lot on Airport Road. The bus picks up and drops off frequently and then your kids don’t have to walk at all.

The Mountain

Seriously, Breck is HUGE! I had no idea there were so many options for runs at Breck. There are 5 peaks each one suits different levels of riders and skiers. This is probably the biggest reason that I like Breck. Having options is great and it makes it feel more adventurous getting to jump from peak to peak. Because the mountain is so big, it never feels crowded here.

I like that the green routes are wide so I didn’t feel like my little kids were going to hit or get run over. I also love that green routes are truly green. They were perfect for learning on and there were quite a few differnet runs we could choose from.

Good times and good views at Peak 8 summit

Breck’s green routes are great if you have never snowboarded a day in your life however learning to snowboard in general is actually easier on steep runs. If you are in the phase of snowboarding where can just manage to get down the mountain without falling, you’re actually going to love the blue routes at Breck. If you are just learning, no need to hit the bunny slopes, the green runs are very easy especially.

One of my kids’ favorite parts of skiing at Breck was kid adventure zones. Breck has trails that branch off the green trails and weave through the forest with fun tunnels and decorations that my kids loved.

Peak 6

This peak has a ton of blue runs as well as a few black diamond runs making it great for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders. It is above treeline so it’s not a good spot on windy or snowy days but you will get the most amazing views on sunny days.

The only way to Peak 6 is via the Zendo Chair

Peak 7

Perfect for beginner skiers and riders looking to move past the green routes.

Intermediate skiers and riders will love the abundance of blue terrain at Peak 7

For intermediate skiers, I like that it has a nice mix of easier blue runs which weave through trees. I can take my younger kids down the easier blue run, Pioneer, while can take the slightly more challenging blue run of Angel’s Rest and Wirepatch and meet up at the bottom. Plus, peak 7 tends to be less crowded than peak 8 & 9.

Peak 8

Not the best are if you are an intermediate, but a diverse mix of beginners and advanced runs.

The Colorado SuperChair at the summit of Peak 8

There are a ton of bunny slope style green runs as well as few wider and longer green runs. Peak 8 has the most amount of black runs below tree line and it’s where most of the terrain parks are. Peak 8 tends to be the most popular area since it’s where all the competitions are held.

Peak 9

Breck’s Peak 9 is the best peak for beginners to start on. Not only that, but there are a lot of blue runs that connect with green runs on Peak 9 so you can easily progress when you are ready.

Where Should Beginners Start From?

Beaver run (Peak 9) is the perfect place for when you are just srtarting out. If your kids are young, get them in ski school. I luckily had enough skills to just teach my kids myself, but the learning areas by Peak 9 are perfect runs for learning.

The greens at Peak 9 are perfect for learning. A day of practice here and you’ll be cruising down blues in to time!

On your first day on the mountain, head to Peak 9 and go to the Quicksilver Chair. Start off by riding Silverthorne. Once you have a hang of that, ride Red Rover over to the A-Chair. The lift line is typically very short here. This chair can take you to the top of Silverthorne again or ride it all the way and give part of Upper and Lower Lehman a try. Don’t forget to give the spooky forest a try before moving on to the blue runs.

Best Runs When You’re Ready For Blues

Once you are ready for blue routes this is our favorite combo of runs so we can ski most of the mountain. It’s really cool how all the peaks connect and this combo allows you to ski from Peak 6 all the way to town.

Finishing down 4 O’Clock after an epic day at Breckenridge

Take the gondola (or bus) to Peak 7

Hop on the Independence Super Chair

Start off by taking one lap down on Pioneer before getting back on Independence Super Chair

Ride Monte Cristo to the Zendo Chair

If it’s Zendo Chair is open, ride down Dellirium to get on the Kensho Super Chair and ride one of the many blue routes down Peak 6

If Zendo is closed, take another lap up Independence and ride down Angel’s Rest or Wirepatch

Continue on Lost Horizon until it reconnects with Monte Cristo (There is one short steep section at the end of Monte Cristo)

Now it’s time to move toward Peak 8

Ride the Indepence Chair and go left to ski/ride Claim Jumper (Do not go Northstar with kids, it’s steep)

At the base of Peak 8, get on the Colorado Super Chair

Now you get to ride 4 O’Clock

You can either ride 4 O’Clock all the way down to the gondola

Or…When you are about a third of the way down 4 O’Clock there is a sharp right that will take you to Sawmill. It’s rarely crowded and my kids loved skiing here! This will take you back to Peak 9 where you can catch the bus back to the gondola or start your adventure again.

Breck Lodging

There are so many hotels, resorts, lodges, condos and houses in the town of Breck and scattered along the base of the mountain. What makes Breck so cool is that many of the resorts, condos, houses are ski in/ski out or back up to the nordic trails. If you can afford it, staying right at the base of the lifts is is totally worth it. Some of the main resorts are:

Photo credit and copyright The Grand Colorado on Peak 8

The Grand Colorado sits right at the base of Peak 8, a stone’s throw away from 4 different lifts, making you centrally located to all terrain at Breck. Peak 8 is where all the energy is and if you like being in an upbeat atmosphere, this is the place for you. You’re also right at the gondola drop off making it simple and easy to go into town for food, drinks and fun. If that’s not fast enough than you can also use resort’s free shuttle service to get where you wan to go in Breck. The Grand Colorado is quite a bit cheaper to stay at than the neighboring lodge, One Ski Hill Place which is a huge benefit. Book now by clicking here.

Photo credit and copyright The Grand Lodge on Peak 7

The Grand Lodge lies one peak over on Peak 7 which would personally be my first choice on places to stay in Breck. Peak 7, as I mentioned before, is an amazing peak for intermediate skiers and riders. Staying at the Grand Lodge gives you instant access to this variety of blue runs and I personally like the good vibes and mellow atmosphere at the base lodge. Just like Peak 8, Peak 7 also sits right next to the BreckConnect gondola for fast access to downtown Breckenridge or you can use the resort’s free shuttle service. Book now by clicking here.

Photo credit and copyright Grand Timber Lodge

Grand Timber Lodge doesn’t sit at the base of Peak, but you get a much more secluded and relaxing feel here. Grand Timber is still ski in + ski out as it’s only a short 5 minute walk to Snowflake lift which brings you up the mountain right between Peak 8 and 9. This resort is very scenic and backs up to forests and trails. The lodge has many free buses that come by and of course there is a also a free shuttle you can use to get down to Breck. Book now by clicking here.

If you have an RV, you can stay at Tiger Run Resort. Or if you are self sufficient in your RV or van, you can free camp in the Dillon parking lots.

Conclusion on Breckenridge Resort

Pros:

Cons:

Need a full day to get around. Where at Keystone we could go and ski for an hour and get two laps on Schoolmarm, you feel like you need a lot more time to fully expereince Breck’s best terrain.

If you are paying for just a day pass, Breck is a little more expensive

Overall:

If you are a total newbie at skiing or have kids that are just learning, Breckenridge is the perfect destination. Sure you need a full day, but you are probably going with the intention of being on the slopes for most of the day.

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Robyn, the creator of Nomads With A Purpose, is a modern nomad. Her and her family, her husband, Victor, and her five kids travel to seek adventure. She is passionate about health and wellness, striving to live A Playful Life.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS Robyn and 18 year old daughter, Gabi are the authors and creators behind nomadswithapurpose.com. They are passionate about adventuring in the outdoors through surfing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Together they are inspiring others to explore the outdoors, get outside their comfort zone, and #BraveForAdventure.